Dispensing apparatus



W.` J. HIRSCH ET AL DISPENSING APPARATUS Jan. 20. 1925.

3 Sheets-Sheet i Filed NOV. 23. 1921 LSZEAZ Jan, 20. 925.

w. J. HlRscH ET AL DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1921 3 SheetsSheet 2 Jan. 20. 1925. Y 1,523,42l

W. J. HIRSCH ET AL DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v I. n?? jUeiz-Z/ORSL Kvm/K g p//Z/f@ -9 MZZ Patented Jan. 20, 1925.

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WALTER J. HIRSCI'I AND JOHN R. KELLY, OF CHICAGG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO LUKE JOI-IN FAIRBNKS, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DISPENSING APPARA/TUS Application filed November 23, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Ee it known that we, VALTER J. Hrnsori and JOHN R. KELLY, citizens of the United States of Anierica, and residents of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specii'ication.

This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing semi-solid substances and more particularly food products such as peanut butter.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a dispensing apparatus of this character having` improved means for receiving and supporting a specially constructed removable receptacle containing the article to be dispensed; to provide improved means for locking the receptacle in place on the supporting means; to provide improved feeding mechanism for urging the contents of the receptacle into a delivering mechanism; to provide improved mechanism for delivering the contents out through a delivery outlet into suitable containers; to provide an improved form of cut-ofi' for the dclivery outlet; to provide improved operating mechanism for actuating the feeding and delivery mechanisms; and to provide improved means controlled by the cut-ofi' for placing the delivery and feeding mechanisins in and out of operative relationship with the operating mechanism.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the delivery mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional detail on the lineI el-i of Fig. 3.

Fig. is a perspective view of the clampingring which coacts with suitable keepers on the supporting means for locking the receptacle in place on said means.

Fig. 6 `is a fragmentary sectional view of the coupling for connecting the agitator to the operating mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in plan of a. part of the operating mechanism, the view being taken from the plane of the line 7-7' of Fig. 2.

Serial No. 517.233.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement of the operating mechanism whereby the pressure plate is operated independently of the agitator and delivery mechanism.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail of the gear and rack by which the pressure plate is actuated.

Fig. l0 is an enlarged plan view taken on the line lO of Fig. 3 showing the clutch mechanism by which the operating mechanism is placed in an out of operating relation with the feeding and delivery mechanism.

Fig. ll is a front elevation of the cut-oil' which controls the delivery opening. V

Fig. l2 is an end elevation of the cam and clutch parts shown in Fig. lO.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of the specially constructed receptacle designed for use with this apparatus.

Fig. le is a fragmentary plan view of the means for locking the receptacle to the support.

A dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention involves the use of a supporting housing within which is placed a receptacle in an inverted position, having a feeding mechanism in the form of an agitator and pressure plate inserted in through the bottom of the receptacle, which has been previously out out, whereby the operation of said feeding mechanism will gradually force the contents of the receptacle out through an opening, in what is normally the top of the receptacle, into a delivery mechanism embodying a spiral conveyor which, operating in unison with the feeding mechanism, causes the discharge of the product through an outlet into suitable containers. A cut-off for the discharge outlet is connected with a clutch mechanism whereby the shifting of said cut-out to open and close said discharge outlet also moves said clutch mechanism into and out of position to effect the actuation of the feeding and delivery mechanism upon the application of power to the operatingv mechanism.

In the specific embodiment herein shown the dispensing apparatus comprises a supporting frame A, adapted to receive a specially constructed removable receptacle li. feeding mechanism C inserted into'the receptacle for urging the contents therefrom into a delivery mechanism D arranged to be operated in unison with the feeding mechanism by operating means E.

Referring to the drawings, the supporting frame A includes a tripod 1, upon which is mounted a platform 2 and a housing 3 for receiving the receptacle B, and above which project the brackets 1 providing supports for the feeding and operating mechanisms. Entending between the legs of the tripod 1 is a cross-brace 5 near the bottom thereof and a shelf 6 about half way between the brace and the platform 2. Hinged to the frcnt edge of the shelf 6 is a ledge 7 for supporting a. suitable container (not shown) in` position to receive the product as discharged from the delivery mechanism.

' The platform 2 is substantially circular inform and has an opening 1() formed therein providing communication between the receptacle B and the delivery mechanism l). This opening is made large enough to receive a clamping ring 11 screwed onto the threaded neck ofthe receptacle, and provided withv an annular shoulder 12 spaced away from the receptacle to permit the ends of keepers 13 to bear upon said ring for securing it to said frame. The keepers 13 are seated in recesses formed at opposite sides of the opening 10 and are secured to pinsy 14 projecting downwardly through bearings in the platformV 2. Handles 15 are provided on the lower ends of the pins lx-L for swinging the keepers into and out of engagement with the annular shoulder 12 of the clamping ring 11.

The housing 3 comprises a pair of semicylindrical sections 16 and 17 ,having domeshaped tops 18. The section 16 is rigidly mounted on thel platform 2, and the section 17, is hinged to one of the brackets et so as to permit the receptacle B with its feeding mechanism C to be readily placed upon and removed from the supporting frame A. 'lhe top of'section 16 has a latch 19 for engaging a pin 20 on the section 17 and locking the hinged section in its closed position.

The brackets t are bolted or otherwise secured to the platform 2 and connected at their upper ends by a member 22 and a brace 23. The member 22 isv disk shaped and recessed to coact withV a plate 21to form a housing for part of the gearing of the operating mechanism. The brace 23 extends between Vthe brackets l directly above the housing 3 and provides a support and guide for parts of the feeding mechanism and the Operating mechanism as willrmore fullv hereinafterV appear.

rlhe receptacle B is in the form of a tin can ofv special construction having a neck 24 which is threaded to receive the clamping ring 11, when the usual cap is removed. This opening is offset to one side to register with the discharge opening 10, when the receptacle is supported on the platform. The bottom of the can is cut out, before the receptacle is placed in the apparatus in an inverted position so as to permit the insertion of the feeding mechanism C.

The feeding mechanism C includes an agitator 25 and a pressure plate 26 arranged for insertion within the inverted receptacle Vfor urging the contents` into the delivering mechanism D. Theagitator 2o is carried at the lower end of a shaft 2T the upper end of which is adapted to be operatively connected to a stud shaft 31 on thegear located in the member 22. The pressure plate 26 is carried at the lower end of a rack bar 367 slidably supported on the shaft 2T and extendingthrough the central recess 28 of the brace 23 which serves to guide the vertical moven'ient of the pressure plate.. A. pivoted latch 37 extends across the front open end of the recess so as to permit the insertion and removal of the rack bar 36. The bar 36 is actuated by a pinion 39 fixed on a shaft 4:0 which is jcurnal'ed in bearings Lll formed on the brace The coupling by which the shaft 27 and the stud 31 are connected together has aV square bore 30 which lits the squared end of said shaft and stud. The coupling is held in position for connecting the shaft 2T and. stud 317 by a pin 32norn'1ally urged by a spring 34 to-seatthe end of the pin in a recess 33 formed in one of the corners ofthe shaft 27, as shown in Fig. 6. Vr'hen the pin 32 is retracted the coupling may be slid down on the shaft 2T to release the stud A handle 36 is attached to the pressure plate by which the plate Vmay be rotated in the receptacle B in order to properlvplocate the rack bar 36 in the recess 28 when theV receptacle is being placed in the machine.

rlhe delivery mechanism l) includesa spiral conveyer lf2, journaled in a housing 43 secured to the table 2 with the o en top '-14 thereof in register with theV discharge outlet 10 from whence the product to be dispensed is conveyed to and discharged from `the opening 17. The trunnion 45 at the rear end of the conveyer extends through the housing and has a oLear 59' secured thereto. The trunnion at the front end of the conveyer is journaled in a face plate 46.

A discharge opening -ILT is formed near' the bottom of the face plate 46 and is controlled by a cut-off in the form of a knife or blade 48, slidably mounted in a recess -19 formed between vertical guides 50. A pinl cn the blade @engages a slot 52 formed in a lever handle 53. At oneV end the'lever 53 is rigidly connected to ashaft 5l journaled inria bearing formed on the face plate and bearings 69 fcrmcd on the heu'sing 43 (see Fig. 10). The other end of the lever 53 is provided with a lug 56 which slidably engages an arcuate flange 57 formed in the face plate 4G. These two connections retain the cutting blade 48 in close contact with thel plate 46 but without causing binding.

F or the purpose of locking the lever handle 53 in position to close the delivery opening` 47 a latch 56.1 (see Fig. l0) is swing-- ably mounted on the under side of the lug 56 so that with the lever handle in its lowermost position the latch may be swung around under the bottom of the face plate 46 as shown in Figure l0. This will prevent the handle from being inadvertently thrown up to open the discharge opening 47 when it is not intended to dispense'some of the contents of the receptacle.

The operating mechanism E comprises a crank 82 connected to a drive shaft `62 journaled on the under side of a platform 2 and by suitable gearing, more particularly hereinafter pointed out, arranged to rotate the two vertical shafts 72 and 7 3, journaled on one of the brackets 4, and a` horizontal shaft 4() journaled on the brace 23 (see Fig. 7).

A pair of beveled gears Gl and 7 5 are rig idly connected to a sleeve 61A which is journaled in bearings G3 (see Figs. l and 2) and provides a bearing for the shaft 62. These gears mesh respectively with gears 59 and 74, the former being secured to the trunnion 45 of the conveyer 42 and the latter being connected to the lower end of the shaft 7 2. A pinion 76 secured to the upper end of the shaft 72 meshes with a gear 77, to which the stud shaft 3l is rigidly connected, for the purpose of causing the. rota tion of the shaft 27 when the coupling 29 is set to receive the squared end of the stud shaft.

Spur gears 79 and 78 are secured adjacent to the lower ends of the shafts 72 and 7 3 respectively so as to cause the shaft 73 to be rota-ted by shaft 72. A worm 8O and gear 8l are secured to the adjacent ends of the shafts 73 and 40 whereby the latter is rotated by the former. The ratio of the spur gears 79 and 78 and the worm 8O and gear 8l are such as to materially reduce the speed of the shaft 40 whereby through the medium of the pinion 39 meshing with the rack bar 3G the pressure plate 26 is caused to have a very slight movement at each rotation of the crank 82.

The operation of the feeding and delivery mechanisms through the rotation of the crank 82 is controlled by the clutch mechanism r-:hich is 'shifted into and out of operative position by the manipulation of the lever handle 53. This clutch mechanism comprises a sleeve 64 slidably mounted on the end of the shaft (i2 adjacent to the gear (il and rotatably connected with said shaft bv means of a spline 65. The opposed faces of the sleeve 64 and gear 6l have interlocking parts 67 which are normally urged out of their interlocking relation by a spring GG. A cam 68 secured to the end of the shaft is shaped so that upon the turning of the shaft when the lever arm 53 is swung upwardly to open the discharge opening 47,the sleeve 64 is shifted toward the gear 6l to cause engagement of the interlocking parts (37 and thereby place the crank 82 in driving relation with both the feeding and delivery mechanisms.

In order to prevent the operating mechanism from being actuated to drive the feedinn' and delivery mechanisms in the wrong direction a gravity pawl 84 is pivoted on the brace 23 in position to engage the teeth of the pinion 39.

lf desired the pressure plate may be arranged to be operated independently of the agitator and delivery mechanism. In that event the vertical shaft 7 3 and its gear connections are omitted, and in place of the gear 8l a handle 83 is fixed on the outer end of the shaft 40, as shown in Fig. 8.

The operation of thc apparatus 4herein shown and described is substantially as follows:

A receptacle filled with the article to be dispensed is placed in an inverted position as shown in Fig. l, and the bottom is removed by means of a suitable can opener. rlhe pressure plate and agitator are then in serted into the open end of the receptacle with the pressure plate resting upon the contents and the agitator pushed downwardly through the contents until it comes into contact with what is normally the top of the can.

The receptacle is then placed on the platform 2 and locked thereto by turning the keepers 18 into engagement with the clamping ring ll which has been screwed onto the neck of the can. Vhen the rack 38 has been placed in proper engagement with the gear 39, the coupling 29 is shifted upwardly to lock the agitator shaft 27 to the stud 3l, and the latch 37 is shifted into position to close the recess 28. Upon swinging the latch 68 into the position shown in full outline in Fig. lO, the lever handle 53 may be raised whereupon the clutch element 64 is shifted into engagement with the hub of the gear Gl so as to connect the drive shaft G2 with the gears Gl and 75, and through them and the other gears to the feeding and discharging mechanisms C and D. Upon rotating the crank 82, the agitator, pressure plate and spiral conveyer will all be actuated in unison for discharging the contents of the receptacle into a container, (not shown) supported on the shelf 7. lVhen the cut-off is closed. the clutch mechanism operates to disengage the drive shaft from the gear 6l so as to prevent the contents within the delivery housing 43 from being forced through the opening 47 and around the edges of the Yen blade 48 in the event that some one tampers With the crank 82.

We claim:

l. In a dispensing apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle having a comparatively small outlet, eccentrieally arranged in one end thereof, a delivery housing communicating Wit-h said receptacle outlet and having a discharge outlet leading therefrom` an agitator rotatably mounted in said one end of said receptacle, a pressure plate movable axially of said receptacle and adapted to coact with said agitator for forcing the contents of said recep- `'tacle through said opening into said delivery housing, a spiral conveyor journaled in said delivery housing, and adapted to discharge the contents through said outlet, and operating mechanism connected to actnate 'i said agitator, pressure plate, and spiral eon veyor in unison.

2. In a dispensing apparatus of the class described. the combination of a support, a horizont-ally disposed delivery housing arrangedon said support, a receptacle removably mounted in an inverted position on said support and having an opening in What is normally the top of said receptacle commu-` nicating With said delivery housing, an agitator and a pressure plate inserted into said receptacle through the bottom thereof with the agitator rotatably mounted on said inverted top and with the pressure plate bearing upon the contents of said receptacle, said agitator and pressure plate being adapted to be actuated to force the contents of said receptacle through said opening into -said delivery housing, a spiral conveyor arranged in said delivery housing and adapt ved to discharge the contents through vsaid inverted top and with the pressure plateV bearing` upon the contents of said receptacle, a shaft attached to said agitator and ex.- tending above said receptacle, a rack bar attached to said pressure plate and slidably mounted on said agitator shaft, a spiral conveyor arranged in said delivery housing, operating mechanism having a. gear connection to said agitator shaft to said rack bar and to said spiral conveyor whereby said parts are simultaneously actuated by said opel.'-

ating ,mechanism for forcing the contents of said receptacle into said delivery housing and discharged therefrom through said outlet.

4. In a dispensing,apparatus :of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame kincluding a platform adapted to receive a receptacle from which the contents are to be dispensed, a delivery housing attached to the under side of said platform and coniimunicating With an opening formed therein,said housing havinga discharge outlet, mechanism Within saidhonsing for dispensing the` contents fof Said rceptacle through said outlet, a. driving shaft and a plurality of driven shafts journaled on said frame, gearing connecting said driving shaft with said delivery mechanism and `with said driven shafts, an agitator, a shaft carrying said agitator, a pressure plate and a rack bar carrying said pressure. plate and slidably mounted on said agitator shaft, said agitator and pressure plate being adapted to be inserted into a receptacle and have said agaitator shaft and rack bar supported on said frame in operative connectionvith said driven shafts.

In a dispensing apparatus of the class described. the combination of a supporting frame including a platform adapted to receive a recel'itaclc from Wl'iich the contents are to be dispensed, a casing arranged above said platform for enclosingthe receptacle, brackets extending upwardly from said frame at the sides of said easing and connected together at the top andat a point above said casing by means of transverse braces, a delivery housing secured to the under side of said platform and communicating With an opening formed therein, said housing having a discharge outlet, a spiral con@ veyor arranged within said housing for forcing the contents to be dispensed -through said outlet, an agitator, a shaft carrying said agitator, a pressure plate` a rack bar carrying said pressure plate andslidably mounted on said agitator shaft, said agitator and pressure plate being adapted to be inserted into a receptacle and have said agitator shaft and rack bar supported in operative position by said braces` a driven shaft journaled on said frame, a vertical driving shaft liour- Y naled on one of said brackets, horizontal driving` shaft journaled on the middle of said braces, gearing connecting said driving shaft with said vertical shaft and said spiral conveyor', other gearing ,connecting said vertical shaft With said agitator shaft` and a pinion VOn Said vhorizontal shaft meshing with said rack bar. i

6. In a dispensing apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle having :inout-let, a delivery housing communicating with said receptacle outlet and seY i ies having a discharge outlet leading therefrom., a cut-ofi' .manually movable into and out of position to open and close said discharge outlet, feeding mechanism arranged Within said receptacle and adapted to be actuated for :forcing the contents through said receptacle outlet into said delivery housing, mechanism Within said housing for dischargng the coutents through said discharge outlet, operating mechanism connected to actuate said feeding and delivery mechanisms in unison, clutch mechanism included in said operating mechanism and adapted to be shifted into and out of position to connect said operating mechanism in driving relation With said feeding and delivery mechanisms, and means connected to said cut-eff and to said clutch mechanism whereby the shifting of said cut-off to open or close said outlet shifts said clutch mechanism to place said feeding and delivery mechanisms respectively in and out of operative relationship with said operating mechanism.

'7. In a dispensing apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame including a platform adapted to receive a receptacle from which the contents are to be dispensed, a delivery housing attached to the under side of said platform and communicating with an opening formed the-rein, said housing having a discharge outlet, a cut-olf for said discharge outlet, mechanism Within said housing for dispensing the contents of said receptacle through said outlet, a driving shaft and a plurality of driven shafts journaled on said franie, gearing connecting' said driving shaft with said delivery mechanism and with said driven shafts, an agitator, ashaft carrying said agitator, a pressure plate, a rack bar carrying said pressure plate and slidably mounted on said agitator shaft, said agitator and pressure plate being adapted to be inserted into a receptacle and have said agitator shaft and rack bar supported on said frame in operative connection with said driven shafts, clutch mechanism arranged to be shifted into and out of position to connect said gearing in rotative relationship with said driving shaft, and a connection between said cutoff and said clutch mechanism whereby the shifting of said cut-oil' controls the operative relationship of said driving shafts with said driven shaft and said delivery mechanism.

S. In a dispensing apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle having an outlet, a delivery housing communicating with said receptacle outlet and having a discharge outlet leading therefrom, a cut-olf manually movable into and out of position to open and close said discharge outlet, feeding mechanism arranged within said receptacle and adapted to be actuated for forcing the contents through said receptacle outlet into said delivery housing, mechanism within said housing for discharging the contents through said discharge outlet, operating mechanism connected to actuate said feeding and delivery mechanisms, clutch mechanism included in said operating mechanism and adapted to be shifted into and out of position to connect said operating mechanism in driving relation With said delivery mechanism, and means connected to said cut-ofi' and to said clutch mechanism whereby the shifting of said cut-off to open or clos(` said outlet shifts said clutch mechamsm to place said delivery mechanism with said operating mechanisn'i respectively in and out of operative relationship.

9. in a dispensing apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle, a deivery housing communicating with said receptacle and having a discharge outlet, a cut-ofi' manually movable into and out of position to open and close said discharge outlet, feeding mechanism arranged to force the contents of said receptacle out through said delivery hnusing out-let, operating mechanism connected to actuate said feeding mechanism, clutch mechanism included in said operating mechanism, and means connected to said Cut-ott' and arranged to shift said clutch mechanism to place said feeding mechanism in and out of operative relationship With said operating mechanism upon the shifting of said cut-ott' to respectively open and close said outlet.

Signed at Chicago this ll day of Nov. i921.

`WALTER J. HIRSCH. JOHN R. KELLY. 

